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F.D.A. Steps Up Effort to Control Vitamin Claims
Published: August 9, 1992
(Page 3 of 3)
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer declared in a May 11 editorial, "If there is any plausible excuse for the Gestapo-like tactics used in a raid on a Kent alternative medicine clinic, it had better be forthcoming and fast."
Organizers have gone door to door in many communities, met with members of Congress and held demonstrations. The regulations have also been strongly criticized by trade groups representing makers of and dietary supplements and grocery and health-food stores. "For God's sake, we're talking about vitamin C, B12 injections and Sleepytime tea," said Alex Schauss, executive director of the newly formed Citizens for Health, a consumer advocacy group based in Tacoma, Wash.
Two months ago, rallies in Los Angeles, Washington and New York, sponsored by People for Reason in Science and Medicine, a California-based group involved in door-to-door canvassing on alternative health and environmental issues, drew thousands who marched to protest the F.D.A. proposals, some carrying signs warning, "Act now or kiss your vitamins goodbye!" Problems Predicted For Consumers
Many advocates are afraid that the general public is not fully aware of the repercussions the agency's actions could have, not only on consumers' rights to choose alternative forms of medicines, but also on their pocketbooks. Health experts have also noted that many parents are afraid to give children huge numbers of pills.
"It's easy to say, 'Just take more pills' if you want higher doses or potency," said the actress Mariel Hemingway, who has been vocal in her opposition to the proposals. "But that means you'll go through a bottle of vitamins every week."
Dr. Vaughn Harada, a California dentist who uses electro-acupuncture to treat patients and is president of the Association of Health Practitioners, a trade association of doctors, dentists, acupuncturists and naturopaths, said a growing number of its members use nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies and medications in their practices. "Now they're afraid they may be targeted by the F.D.A. like Dr. Wright was," Dr. Harada said.
Deborah Widel, one of the co-founders of People for Reason in Science and Medicine and a patient of Dr. Harada, said she feared such scenes would become more commonplace. "We're not trying to put the F.D.A. out of business," she said. "It's an agency that has served a useful and necessary purpose. But we don't need Big Brother, either.
"Basically, we as consumers want a freedom of choice. What the F.D.A. proposes is a direct violation of our constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
The Food and Drug Administration "is in no way interested in taking vitamins off the market," said its Commissioner, Dr. David A. Kessler, in a letter pointing out a number of inaccuracies in The Times's report. A corrected article is on page 33.
Photo: Dr. Jonathan V. Wright injecting Alex Marmorella with vitamin B12 at the Tahoma Clinic in Kent, Wash. In May, the United States Food and Drug Administration raided the clinic, asserting that the alternative medicine practitioners had made illegal drugs, including "vitamin-mineral concoctions." (Chris Bennion for The New York Times) (pg. 32)


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In Nigeria, the central bank has put an end to the segmentation of the foreign exchange market, which means that the naira will now be traded at market rates instead of being fixed against the US dollar and other currencies.
This decision, welcomed by Nigerians, comes five days after the suspension and subsequent arrest of former CBN director Godwin Emefiele.
Until then, several exchange rates had been applied, depending on the sectors involved in the transactions. These announcements by the central bank caused the naira to devalue by almost 40%, and the currency has since recovered.
According to analysts, this unification of the exchange rate should stimulate money inflows and help stabilize an economy battered by galloping inflation and record unemployment.
“We had trouble finding US dollars simply because the Central Bank of Nigeria would only supply them to exporters, using them to pay medical bills, business trips…To get around this problem, we had to source them from the markets, you need dollars, go to the market, and whereas on the markets, it’s the law of supply and demand that determines the price,” explains Sam Chidoka, CEO of Kairos Capital.
What’s more, experts warn, these measures will impact the prices of imported goods, which could affect many people in a country heavily dependent on imports. Public debt is also expected to increase due to some borrowing in US dollars, which will lead to a rise in the total debt/GDP ratio.

domain: news


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After disappointing sales of the Nexus One Android phone, Google has officially given up on its mobile web store experiment.
In a blog post published just a short while ago, Google all but admitted that its web store — and thus Nexus One sales — has underperformed. The decision comes after multiple carriers dropped the Nexus One from their line-ups, including Verizon Wireless.
Here's what Google had to say about the web store:
"But, as with every innovation, some parts worked better than others. While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not. It’s remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it’s clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they also want a wide range of service plans to chose [sic] from."
Due to the failure of the web store, Google is making two major changes to its Nexus One and Android strategy. First, it is making the Nexus One more available to retailers. Second, it will eventually cease selling the Nexus One online, opting instead for an "online store window" to showcase a plethora of Android phones.
Despite the spin, today's announcement can't be considered anything less than an admission of failure. People weren't willing to buy a phone they couldn't play with first, and Nexus One sales suffered consequently. Apple must be jumping for joy right now.


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China’s Factory Prices Quicken as Drag on Global Inflation EasesBloomberg News
China’s factory-gate inflation picked up further last month while consumer prices accelerated, suggesting government efforts to reduce overcapacity have gained some traction and alleviating a source of global disinflationary pressure.
- Producer-price index rose 1.2 percent in October from a year earlier, compared with a 0.9 percent increase estimated by economists in a Bloomberg survey
- Consumer-price index increased 2.1 percent, matching the gain forecast by analysts
China’s factories, scorched by years of rising wages and tepid demand, now face higher raw-material input costs, forcing some to mull their first price increases in years. That could soon translate into higher export prices, easing disinflationary pressure around the world. Consumer inflation, pushed up by increasing rents and higher food prices, remains comfortably within the full-year government ceiling of 3 percent.
"The monetary policy stance will gradually shift from an easing bias early this year to a neutral position" due to CPI and asset price inflation, said Ding Shuang, chief China economist at Standard Chartered Plc in Hong Kong. The rise in PPI is due to both supply-side factors such as infrastructure investment and demand-side factors such as capacity reduction, Ding said.
"Company profits are already improving and recovering producer prices will further benefit them," said Li Wei, the China and Asia economist for Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. "But whether those profits will turn into new investment remains to be seen."
"This backs further a shift towards fiscal and not monetary policy," said Michael Every, head of financial markets research at Rabobank NA in Hong Kong. "This is all driven by a Chinese version of helicopter money -- fiscal stimulus with tacit PBOC backing. And it works."
"High frequency indices are showing a divergence," said Harrison Hu, chief greater China economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Singapore. "If you look at the those reflecting current business activities such as the industrial profits and PPI, they are showing that China’s economy has stabilized. But if you look at some leading indicators including property sales, and newly added credit, they are showing signs of the economy losing steam."
- Purchasing prices rose 0.9 percent from year earlier for first increase since March 2012
- Food prices climbed 3.7 percent from a year earlier, non-food prices rose 1.7 percent
- Consumer goods prices increased 1.9 percent, services rose 2.5 percent
— With assistance by Xiaoqing Pi, Kevin Hamlin, and Miao Han


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Fraudsters stole £3.5bn last year and economic hardship likely to trigger more financial crime
Fraudsters stole a record £3.5bn last year and economic hardship is likely to trigger even more financial crime, according to accountants KPMG.
A huge surge in the second half of the year, when £2.5bn of fraud was recorded, meant 2011 was the worst in history.
Paying a price: Professional criminals accounted for the largest portion of fraud
Some £729m was stolen from companies by their own management, a 74 per cent increase on the previous year.
Professional criminals accounted for the largest portion of fraud at £1.4bn, but employees were only just behind at £1.3bn.
Hitesh Patel of KPMG said the figures ‘represent the thin end of a much bigger wedge’, as austerity measures lead people into temptation.
He added: ‘It is important that organisations ensure than they have robust prevention and detection mechanisms so they don’t lose value they have worked so hard to preserve through the back door.’
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An announcement on October 27, 2023 confirmed that another dog food company had to recall its products due to salmonella contamination. Salmonella is one of the most common causes of dog food recalls, and removing contaminated products is critical because they can affect both pets and people in your family.
What products have been recalled?
Blue Ridge Beef, a reputable raw pet food manufacturer, has recalled them 2-pound packages of Breeders Choice Raw pet Food. The recalled products contain the following information: Lot # 8/2/24 UPC 8 54298 00193 1. This food comes in a clear tube-like package.
The food was voluntarily recalled due to confirmed salmonella contamination. Fortunately, there are no reports of illnesses related to the recall. This recall does not affect any other products or batch codes.
This batch of food was distributed in stores from August 9, 2023 to August 25, 2023. The company sold the packs to retail stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Danger of salmonella infection
dogs infected with Salmonella may experience vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite. However, healthy dogs can still carry the bacteria and pass it on to others. If your dog shows any unusual symptoms after eating the contaminated product, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Symptoms of salmonella in humans are similar to those in dogs: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. In extreme cases, this can lead to arthritis, muscle pain, endocarditis, arterial infections, eye irritation, or urinary tract infections. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is advised to see a doctor.
What to do with recalled products
If you have a recalled product, make sure you dispose of it safely so that no one, pets or wildlife have access to it. Then clean all surfaces that have touched food, such as bowls, counters, and storage containers. After that, wash your hands thoroughly. Never sell or give away these products, as this only puts other people and animals at risk.
You can email Blue Ridge Beef at email@example.com for a full refund. You can also call the company at 704-880-4500 Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST.
If someone in your home has come into contact with the food, watch for any unusual symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially with pets because they can’t tell you what’s wrong.


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Text Messaging Featured Article
What Can Mobile Service Providers Do to Protect Texting from Instant Messaging Alternatives?
The big issue about messaging is not whether people will do it. The issue is whether the ways most people use it in the future will rely on carrier-provided paid text messaging, or will they shift to over-the-top methods that don’t generate revenue directly for mobile service providers.
Vanson Bourne, commissioned by Acision, expectedly showed high usage of text messaging by most mobile phone owners.
Research found that U.S. consumers send an average of 107 texts each week. About 62 percent of U.S. smartphone users surveyed have unlimited text messaging bundles as well – an important stat since the economic incentive to use an OTT alternative is relatively low.
That’s not so much the case in many other markets, where messaging tariffs are high and many messages are charged at international rates. In those situations, the end user value is obvious: OTT saves money.
Mobile service providers lost $8.7 billion in lost text messaging revenues in 2010, and $13.9 billion in 2011, suggest researchers at Ovum. That represents about six percent of total messaging revenue in 2010 and nine percent of 2011 messaging revenues.
Still, 55 percent of U.S. smartphone owners surveyed by Vanson Bourne also stated they use SMS alternatives.
Smartphone owners said the top three reasons to use OTT instant messaging services, rather than text messaging, were enhanced features, including content sharing (28 percent), speed (27 percent) and “works across devices” (25 percent).
Only four percent of smartphone users said instant messaging is more reliable and faster than SMS. The implication is that additional features could make a big difference in use of carrier-provided text messaging, rather than instant messaging.
When asked about SMS based personalized services, a significant portion of respondents indicated they would be likely to use message delivery notifications (36 percent), black/white listing (33 percent); message search (29 percent); and group messaging (32 percent).
Almost a third of respondents (28 percent) said they would even be willing to pay for these enhanced features.
As typically is the case, nobody can be entirely sure how real-world consumers actually would behave, compared to what people tell researchers they will do, or want to do.
Edited by Braden Becker


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MANILA, Philippines — Asia’s leading buy now, pay later brand Atome is ramping up its presence in the Philippines as it continues to partner with online and offline retailers amid the pandemic.
Atome has partnered with more than 100 retailers including Zalora, Agoda, Cole Haan, Aldo, Garmin, Anker, Giordano, Timex, Plains & Prints, Puma Select, Pretty Looks, New Era Caps, Watch Republic, Boozy and Timberland, across key shopping categories such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle and home and living since its launch in October.
It also recently signed a partnership with the Primer Group, with its brands such as TUMI, Rox, North Face, Bratpack, Columbia and The Travel Club soon accepting Atome as a buy now, pay later option for interest free payments across their online channels.
Last October, Standard Chartered also announced a 10-year strategic partnership with Atome Financial, the holding company that operates Atome and other digital lending brands. The partnership includes $500 million in financing to expand Atome Financial’s regional ecosystem of merchants and customers.
The leading buy now pay later platform in Asia recently tapped EJ dela Vega to lead its operations in the Philippines. Dela Vega has more than a decade of experience in tech startups, payment and telco operations, with a track record in building teams and scaling businesses, marketing and payments, both locally and internationally.
“I’m very excited to join Atome at this time and lead this exciting phase of growth in one of Atome’s newest markets. Atome can play a big role in powering the retail sector’s economic recovery as well as accelerating financial inclusion for the underbanked Filipino population,” Dela Vega said.
Atome chief executive officer David Chen said Dela Vega’s leadership experience and knowledge in scaling businesses would be invaluable as we scale the company’s Philippines operations and build on rapid growth across Asia.
“We’re very excited to introduce a digital-savvy generation of Filipino consumers to a better and smarter way to shop and pay and give them access and affordability to quality products and services,” Chen said.
To celebrate Atome’s launch in the Philippines, new users who download Atome’s mobile app would receive a P200 welcome voucher that can be used for their first purchase with a minimum spend amount of P500 across its online and offline merchant partners.


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What to expect from Sony ? In this June 2019 version, you’ll get the latest news and rumors in one place for the upcoming Sony E-mount cameras as well as new lenses.
Sony finally announced long-waited telephoto lenses. The new Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS and FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS. The US price for FE 200-600mm lens is $1,998.00 (B&H Photo Video/Adorama) ), the US price for FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens is $12,998 (B&H Photo Video/Adorama).
Sony also has one new camera code “WW716189” got registered at certification bodies, so we can expect at least one new camera to be announced within 1-2 months. Here is a roundup rumors of upcoming Sony cameras and lenses to be announced next.
- Sony a9 Mark II (Rumored to be announced in the second half of 2019)
- Sony a7S III (Rumored to be announced in late 2019 to early 2020. 4K@60p, 10bit 4:2:2, HDR Video, Staked Sensor)
- Sony a6700/a7000 (Will have a7 series design, a high-end APS-C model, see rumored specs)
- Sony Alpha a5 (An entry-level full frame mirrorless camera to compete with Canon EOS RP)
- Sony a77 III
- Sony RX1R III
- Sony RX10 V
List of lenses getting refreshed, so if you are planning to buy one of these lenses, better keep eye on the list.
Sony lenses to be updated
- Sony FE 16-35 f/2.8 GM
- Sony FE 24-70 f/2.8 GM
- Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM
- Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS
- Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS
Upcoming Sony Lenses
- Sony FE 20mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens
- Sony E 16mm f/2.8 Mark II Lens
- Sony E 12-24mm f/4 Lens
- Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens
Read more Sony Mirrorless news and Sony Rumors here.
Also join the Sony Camera Users Facebook Group to share your Sony photography.


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Smartphones can help improve memory skills, says this study
Using smartphones and other digital devices could help improve memory skills, rather than causing people to become lazy or forgetful, according to a study.
How it works
The research, published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, showed that digital devices help people to store and remember very important information. This, in turn, frees up their memory to recall additional less important things, the researchers said.
Neuroscientists have previously expressed concerns that the overuse of technology could result in the breakdown of cognitive abilities and cause "digital dementia."
Digital devices as external memory
However, the findings show that using a digital device as external memory not only helps people to remember the information saved into the device, but it also helps them to remember unsaved information too.
As per the author
"We found that when people were allowed to use an external memory, the device helped them to remember the information they had saved into it. This was hardly surprising, but we also found that the device improved people's memory for unsaved information as well," said senior author Sam Gilbert from University College London (UCL) in the UK.


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New Zealand’s on-farm plastic recycling initiative, Plasback, is gaining momentum as the agricultural industry moves to reduce its environmental impact. Since the beginning of the year two Kiwi silage wrap importers – Nutritech and Tulloch Farm Machines – have joined the Plasback scheme.
Also, dairy giant Fonterra has launched its Co-operative Difference framework, under which it pays suppliers more for producing sustainable, high-quality milk. Joining the Plasback scheme is one step dairy farmers can take to meet the criteria for sustainable production under Fonterra’s new framework. Plasback manager Chris Hartshorne welcomes these developments and says it indicates the industry is really starting to take product stewardship of farm plastics seriously.
“We welcome the support of Tullochs and Nutritech. It is good to see suppliers take a responsible approach toward the environment and their customers. We encourage all silage wrap suppliers to join the scheme as well. “Last year the Ministry for the Environment decided that all farm plastics sold in New Zealand will have to be covered by an accredited product stewardship scheme. “This means everyone in the farm plastics supply chain – from manufacturers through to consumers – will be responsible for recycling leftover plastic products and packaging. “How this will be done for the full range of plastics sold to farmers is yet to be worked out, but Plasback already provides an accredited service to collect silage wrap and some chemical drums direct from the farm gate.”
Chris says Plasback is a voluntary, user-pays system. As demand for the service increases, there is a need to expand its infrastructure to manage increased volumes.
“Our concern is that if all silage wrap distributors do not support the scheme, the government will legislate mandatory fees, which will cost the industry more and could be less convenient for farmers.”
Nutritech national sales manager Shaun Benefield says the company has been in business for 106 years, so it understands the need to be sustainable.
“This approach is driven both by our board of directors and our customers. There is no escaping the need for suppliers to take a proactive approach to sustainability. Nor should there be,” Shaun says. “PlasBack is an obvious partner for us as we enter
further into the forage consumable market with our Silostop® Orange oxygen barrier film. Silostop® is a 45μm oxygen barrier which has one third of the amount of plastic compared to a conventional black and white cover, so there is less plastic needing to be recycled. “Our conversation with Chris was fairly straight forward. Nutritech has decided to invest in Plasback over a three year period initially.
“Our customers have told us on many occasions that disposing of forage plastic is a genuine concern. It is comforting for us to know they have the option to recycle their Silostop® film through Plasback.”


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Technology firm Dyson has announced plans to move its corporate headquarters to Singapore, where it intends to build its new range of electric vehicles.
The news came as the company announced that profits had broken the £1bn barrier – up 33 percent to £1.1bn for 2018, with turnover increasing 28 percent to £4.4bn.
Dyson, which has been based at Malmesbury since 1991, stressed that British jobs would not be affected by the move, save the relocation of two senior executives to the city state.
The decision was made by company founder and owner Sir James Dyson, but the job of dropping the bombshell was given to chief executive Jim Rowan, who said: ""The move is nothing to do with Brexit or tax, it's about making sure we are future proofed.
"The tax difference is negligible for us, we are taxed all over the world and we will continue to pay tax in the UK.
"We will continue to invest in the UK, in Malmesbury, in Bristol and London."
In a statement, the firm added: "An increasing majority of Dyson's customers and all of our manufacturing operations are now in Asia. This shift has been occurring for some time and will quicken as Dyson brings its electric vehicle to market.
"We are now at a point where Dyson's corporate head office will relocate there to reflect the increasing importance of Asia to Dyson's business."
Dyson's £200m investment at its Hullavington Airfield campus will be unaffected by the move, said the firm, as will the £44m refurbishment of its Malmesbury base and its £31m investment in young engineers through its undergraduate programme.
The company bought the 517-acre disused airfield two years ago and has already renovated two hangars.
Dyson’s announcement comes shortly after Singapore and the EU agreed a free trade agreement.


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Another Kiwi medical cannabis company has been awarded GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification.
Following Helius Therapeutics’ announcement in August*, Rua Bioscience has also received GMP certification from Medsafe, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority; which is run by the country’s Ministry of Health.
Rua Biosciences emerged from Hikurangi Enterprises, the first company to secure a license to cultivate medicinal cannabis plants in New Zealand.
The GMP tick will enable Rua Bioscience to kick off manufacturing of its first medicinal cannabis product, which will be a cannabidiol (CBD) oil formulation. But more hurdles await – for example, the company now needs to submit a New Medicinal Cannabis Product Application to the Medicinal Cannabis Agency in order to supply into the local market.
Still, the GMP status is a significant milestone and will be a big help towards the company’s other goal of exporting dried flower to its German distribution partner, Nimbus Health.
“Gaining certification just 12 months after commissioning our facilities and listing on the NZX is a massive achievement, and a testament to the great work being done here in Tairāwhiti by a highly-experienced, talented and tenacious team,” said Rua Bioscience CEO Rob Mitchell.
As for when Rua will be able to supply product for the domestic market, it’s anticipating this will occur by early 2022.
There’s quite a bit of turmoil within the NZ sector at the moment over the slow approvals process for both imported and locally produced medical cannabis. NZ’s Health Minister apparently recently unleashed on the industry, commenting issues concerning supply and cost of medicines after interim arrangements for imported products expired would be because the industry “didn’t get off their asses“.
Since October 1, all medicinal cannabis products to be imported into or manufactured in New Zealand must be verified as meeting minimum quality standards – and those standards are very high. You can read more on the situation here.
There are reportedly still no products ready, but 20 awaiting approval.
It’s a difficult time for New Zealand’s still fledgling medical cannabis industry – and unfortunately for patients too, with some frantic they won’t be able to secure or afford the medicines they need while business and the government end of town gets sorted.
*Update: Helius Therapeutics announced its GMP certification in August, but it was awarded in July.


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The Chromecast dongle just keeps getting better and better. Earlier this year, Google released a developer SDK for the device, opening the door to third-party apps and even games. In its latest update, Google has imbued the dongle with the ability to mirror the screen of any compatible Android phone or tablet:
Starting today, you can mirror your Android phone and tablet to the TV so you can see your favorite apps, photos or anything else, exactly as you see it on your mobile device—only bigger. To start mirroring, simply select "Cast Screen" from the navigation drawer in the Chromecast app and select your Chromecast device. On Nexus devices, this feature is also available through the quick settings menu.
The feature will be enabled on Samsung, HTC, LG phones and tablets "over the next few days," Google says. You'll also need to download version 1.7 of the official Chromecast app.
The Chromecast dongle can still be purchased from Google's Play store (and a handful of other e-tailers) for $35. It plugs into a TV's HDMI port and enables content streaming over Wi-Fi from just about any device, including Windows PCs, iDevices, and Chromebooks.
I've been using an Apple TV for my streaming needs since last year, but considering the price tag on this thing—and the stagnation of the Apple TV software—I might just have to pick one up.
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Apple and Google have pulled popular video sharing app TikTok from their app stores in India amid pornography fears.
Quartz India reported early Wednesday morning that TikTok was unavailable for download on both the Google and Apple store. Business insider contacted Apple and Google for comment however didn’t immediately hear back.
Earlier this month, the Madras high court asked the government to ban the app, saying that it inspired pornography and made young users vulnerable to sexual predators. Its creator, Chinese company ByteDance, urged the court to prevent this ban on the grounds that it’d go against freedom of speech rights in India.
In its Supreme Court filing, Bytedance aforesaid that a “very minuscule” proportion of TikTok content was considered inappropriate or obscene. Bytedance failed to immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
India is one of the top markets for the app. Business insider recently reported that more than 40th of the app’s new users in 2018 were from India, citing information from app analytics website sensor Tower. There are more than one hundred twenty million TikTok users within the country, the firm aforesaid, and five hundred million worldwide.
The case for a national ban will attend the supreme court in India on April 22.
“We have faith in the Indian judicial system and we are optimistic regarding an outcome that would be well received by over one hundred twenty million monthly active users in India, who continue using TikTok to showcase their creativity and capture moments that matter in their everyday lives,” the corporate said in a statement to the press, as reported by Quartz India.


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Medicine has long been projected to be among the first industries to be heavily impacted by 3D printing technology. After all, hearing aids and dental aligners have proven to be killer apps for the technology, with over 10 million 3D printed hearing aids already in the world today. Now, medical 3D printing has taken a further leap forward via Materialise (MTLS), as the company has received CE Marking Certification for most of its personalized orthopedic and cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) products.
CE Marking approval is meant to demonstrate that a medical device meets that standards of the European Medical Devices Directive. Before this news, Materialise’s 3D printed devices necessitated medical prescriptions each time they were made for every patient and application. Now, the CE Marking applies to a number of products in its portfolio, including patient-specific orthopedics, anatomic models, and patient-specific surgical guides and implants.
Materialise is already a leader in the medical 3D printing space, having produced over 350,000 personalized devices across six continents. The company launched its Mimics software in 1992, forming the foundation for 3D image-based engineering. In 2007, the company was the first to bring 3D printed tools into the operating room with its surgical knee guides. 2009 saw the launch of patient-specific CMF implants, in which part porosity enabled improved bone growth for such devices.
In a recent 3DPrint.com PRO article, executive editor Joris Peels described in detail Materialise’s unique strategy across a number of verticals. Indeed, the Belgian firm has been an interesting one, supplying both software and 3D printing services and now acquiring a 3D scanning firm. Peels suggested that the company has been cautious, yet dependable and innovative in its strategic decision making—not always being the first to a new market application, but ensuring that a new angle in a new field is worthwhile before jumping in and innovating the hell out of it in a very deliberate manner.
“When the European Medical Devices Directive came to place in 1993, the use of personalized devices was exceptional. In the last 30 years, we have advanced 3D planning and printing to scale this technology to a much larger audience. At Materialise, we are talking about thousands of devices delivered worldwide every year. Personalized devices are no longer the exception. This CE marking certification demonstrates that these personalized devices meet the same stringent quality requirements as regular devices, despite the challenges involved to make every device match the specific patient’s anatomy,” says Brigitte de Vet, Vice President and Managing Director of Materialise Medical.
In this case, the company’s steady work in medical 3D printing has allowed it to become possibly the first to receive such certification for such a wide array of devices. Now, patient-specific implants and guides can be deployed at a larger scale more quickly across Europe. Materialise suggests that the certification will improve accessibility to personalized medical devices, as surgeons won’t need to sign a prescription for the devices they order and there will be less paperwork for pharmacists.
Meanwhile, we know that models and devices tailored to patients improve patient outcomes, reduce time in the operating room, and better prepare surgeons for procedures. De Vet spoke to this, saying:
“The advantage of using personalized devices is that they add more predictability into the surgical setting and allow the treatment of any clinical condition, including the most challenging ones. Now having this CE marking for our larger portfolio will help bring these personalized devices to even more patients, removing some of the administrative constraints for our customers.”
The company already has CE markings for some of its medical software, including Mimics Innovation Suite and Mimics Enlight. Now that it has this certification, we really may see medical 3D printing take off and deliver the value that it has promised for so long. To learn more about the man behind Materialise, listen to our interviews with CEO Fried Vancraen, part one and part two.
(Image courtesy of Materialise.)
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Mphasis aims to be a $10 billion company in the next 3-5 years — that's twice its current size
- The Indian IT mid-cap,
Mphasis, has plans to join the leagues of Tata Consultancy Services ( TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and others.
- In an interview with Business Insider, chief executive Nitin Rakesh revealed that the company is likely to go from its current $4 billion market cap to $10 billion within the next three to five years.
- According to him, banking may be the Blackstone-backed firm’s main vertical right now but Mphasis is looking to hi-tech as well as travel and logistics to boost the next phase of its growth.
“The goal that we’ve set for ourselves is a $10 billion market cap in the next Blackstone innings… Typically, you can imagine that to be in the next three to five years window.”
Right now, Mphasis is worth around $4.3 billion. The bulk of the IT mid-cap’s revenue comes from banks, financial services and insurance (BFSI) segment. While this segment will continue to be at the core of the company’s future growth, it’s also looking at other verticals — like hi-tech as well as travel and logistics.
“We have almost doubled the business in the last four years, we can repeat that in the next four,” Mphasis’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nitin Rakesh told Business Insider in an interview.
Looking for greener pastures when it comes to banking
For Mphasis, the UK is the next big market for banking outside of the US. The segment has grown consistently for six straight quarters for the company. “We moved one of our key leaders from the US to oversee the UK and Europe business,” explained Rakesh.
According to him, clients from the UK and Europe used to account for around 10% of the company’s revenue three years ago. Today, that contribution has grown to 13%.
Banking is only one piece of the puzzle
As Mphasis enters the realm of large-cap IT companies, it doesn’t intend for banking to be its niche. “Travel and logistics vertical has shown 35% to 40% compounded annual growth in the last three years,” said Rakesh.
“While we’re known for banking, there are other pockets that are really turbo charging our growth right now.”
The hi-tech vertical, which includes medical device companies and businesses that service chip makers, has so far grown to become a $100 million vertical for Mphasis. That’s a 50% jump in the last financial year, which ended March 2021.
Being in the running for hi-tech opportunities doesn’t only mean competing against software companies. According to Rakesh, it also means competing against product engineering companies as well as niche embedded design and software firms. “The skill set there is engineering and design, much more than just software development. It needs a lot of architectural muscle,” he said.
Last month, the US investment management behemoth Blackstone committed $2.8 billion for a majority stake in Mphasis. “Given that the commitment to Blackstone is continuity and acceleration, we definitely expect to be in the segment where we’re market leaders in growth,” said Rakesh.
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In the internet realm, the video-calling has risen modestly from 20% of internet users in April 2009 to 23% of internet users in the summer 2010 survey.
On any given day, 4% of internet users are participating in video calls, video chat, or teleconferencing, up from 2% in April 2009.
“So the chat becomes a shared whitespace.” In that respect, the video streams are small and float above the text chat unobtrusively.
While some group video calling features stuff talking heads onto a screen, essentially forcing participants to either drop what they are doing to take part or get off the line, Kik said it has carefully created an additional layer that lives above the chat conversation and is accessible to all, even when people are out and about or otherwise unable to switch their video on.
“It’s not like calling, we wanted to make it a seamless upgrade from chat,” Kik CEO and founder Ted Livingston told Tech Crunch.
The Project’s survey also asked people if they had participated in such calls “yesterday” and the surveys show that the percentage of video callers online on any given day rose from 2% in April 2009 to 4% in the summer of 2010.
The following table gives a breakdown of the demographic differences among internet users when it comes to video calling, chatting, or teleconferencing.
Almost a fifth of American adults – 19% – have tried video calling either online or via their cell phones.
That figure comes from adding up the number of adults who said they either had made a video or teleconferencing call online (17% of adults have done that) or made video calls on their cell phones (6% of adults have done that). They are generally warm against strangers and they love to talk with them. They are very mixed and there are very different kind of people are living there. You can find blond, brunette, redhead and black girls here and it’s possible that you can meet with someone from any religion and beliefs.Some of the key findings in the most recent survey related to online video calls, which are conducted by 23% of the adults who are internet users: Video calling has become increasingly available as camcorders have spread through the online environment, cameras have been built into smart phones, and as video-chat services like Skype, Google Talk, and Apple i Chat have become a feature of the online and smart phone environment.Teleconferencing is also becoming more embedded in the business environment.1 We disclaim all liability for these telemedicine services, which are provided solely by MDLIVE in accordance with MDLIVE policies and terms.


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United Airlines, the largest air carrier in the United States, will cut its New Year's Eve flights by one-third because Y2K fears have reduced demand, the company said Monday.
By cutting its normal worldwide schedule of 2,400 daily flights by 34 percent on 31 December, United is following the lead of a number of other carriers who have already curtailed schedules. The New Year's Day schedule is being trimmed 14 percent.
A United spokesman said the airline is making the cuts strictly because fewer people are booking flights, not because of any perceived millennium bug. All United systems are Y2K compliant, the spokesman said.
Still, only 20 percent of those polled in September by the Air Transport Association harbored any serious Y2K fears. This is down from a year ago, when nearly 50 percent of those polled said they were worried about some kind of Y2K fallout.
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Divide, then multiply: Sony Corp., the world's largest maker of audio of video equipment, said Monday that it plans a 2-for-1 split of its stock, halving its price and doubling the amount of outstanding shares.
Shareholders will receive two new Sony shares for every share they hold as of 31 March, the company said. The dividend will be divided in half so that the yield will stay the same percentage.
The split will double the number of outstanding shares to 893.1 million.
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Cut-rate auctions: Priceline.com will launch a new site – Perfect YardSale – to compete with Internet auctions run by eBay, Amazon.com, and Yahoo, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The site will emphasize "quality second-hand goods" such as old videogames, electronics, and exercise equipment. Unlike other sites, Perfect YardSale will let bidders make an offer under the seller's asking price.
The site is expected to attract people trying to unload unwanted possession at a cheap price. This contrasts with the other sites, which deal largely in antiques, collectibles, and other hot items.
- - -
In the fast lane: A booming US economy and a strong stock market has helped to fuel the automobile industry's biggest year ever.
Continued strong results from foreign automakers in December also helped boost sales past the record set in 1986, when 16.03 passenger cars and light trucks were sold, analysts said.
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Deal du jour: Compositech Ltd., which produces patented laminates for printed circuit boards, said it will acquire Netdirect Corp. International in a deal valued at US$174.6 million.
Netdirect, previously known as Virtual Technology Corp., sells computer hardware, software, and consumer electronics products.
Reuters contributed to this report.


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The party will be hosted at Mixmag’s HQ on May 25, with Wisdom Teeth co-founder Facta and Noods Radio regular Manami spinning their up front styles of dance music. They've both lived in Bristol and London, becoming respected figures among two of the UK's most vibrant music scenes.
Read this next: In Session: Facta
As a DJ, Facta's shapeshifting style encapsulates a spectrum of sounds ranging across club instrumentals, UKG, vocal-led pop, and more.
His scope as a producer includes ambient breakbeats and fizzy club wreckers, often released via the Wisdom Teeth label he runs with childhood friend K-LONE. His latest drop ‘Ditto’ came backed with a remix by Dorisburg.
Japan-born Manami's influences come from the bass scene within Bristol on top of London’s darker outlook on house and techno.
Read this next: Manami in The Lab LDN
Our first collaborative event ran in November last year, celebrating the launch of A|X ARMANI EXCHANGE’s rave-inspired collaboration with Smiley World.
The party was set at the fashion brand's flagship store in London where Ploy and re:ni talked music and delivered a fiery b2b set.
The Sound Exchange was created to showcase a new dimension in style and sound - keep an eye on Mixmag and A|X ARMANI EXCHANGE's social channels for more details of upcoming events in the US and Europe throughout 2023.
Mixmag and A|X ARMANI EXCHANGE’s The Sound Exchange will run from 6:PM to 8:30PM at the Mixmag HQ on May 25. Sign-up for the guestlist here.


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The lights are on
Square Enix nods to Final Fantasy VII with its new cloud gaming company.
A change in Fox's release schedule means its unlikely that we'll see the Assassin's Creed movie adaptation anytime soon.
Images and rough footage of a very unique Mario Wii game has surfaced.
The millions of Sony fans who haven't yet upgraded to PlayStation 4 can now take the company's streaming gaming service for a spin.
There's a new listing on the Australian game ratings board site for a new BioWare game codenamed "Green Cloud."
This week we talk about a surprising Wii U exclusive, the year's biggest video game acquisition, and catch up with post-review impressions of Destiny.
Ever wonder what it'd be like to enter a store entirely devoted to Square Enix? Welcome to Artnia.
This week, Pokémon, Metroid, and Wii Fit titles are getting discounts as we approach the release of the big fighting game.
The latest episode of Sunset TV reveals new gameplay systems and another look at character customization.
There were chinks in the armor of this swordfighting project.
In honor of Hyrule Warriors' upcoming release, we've compiled a list of games that pit you against entire armies.
We take a look at one of Hyrule Warriors' Twilight Princess levels with Midna taking on the hordes of moblins.
The digital version is already available, but those in search of a hard copy won't need to wait long.
Battlefield Hardline's Hotwire is about putting the pedal to the metal.
Lighting strikes way more than twice, as her trilogy heads to a new platform.
Four characters, three skill trees each, and about a month to figure out how you want to play.
Tokyo Game Show just opened its doors to press. We captured some of what's on display to share.
Star Wars and Batman collide, though not how you might think.
Tangible Play is giving users the ability to create their own word-based challenges for the iOS device.


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A recent survey conducted on crypto assets and investment by Crypto.com and The Economist saw participation from over 3,000 users.
The survey shed some interesting light on how the general public perceives cryptocurrencies. The most surprising part was that the majority of those surveyed expressed far more interest and confidence in Central Bank Issued Digital Currencies than more popular decentralized crypto assets.
The survey revealed:
- 38% of the people did not consider decentralized crypto as a safe investment against
- 26% of people who believed that decentralized crypto tokens are a safe form of investments while
- 25% of those surveyed were in the middle and the remaining
- 11% had no idea whether they are safe or not.
On the other hand, 54% of the surveyed people showed trust in CBDC and believed that a token issued by their government or central bank would be a more secure form of investment, while 14% believed CBDCs are not that safe. 23% of the correspondent was in-between and the remaining 9% had no idea.
Why People Trust CBDCs More than Decentralized Currency?
The cryptocurrency space emerged with the launch of Bitcoin after the financial crisis of 2008/9. It only gained the attention of the large public after the massive rise in 2017.
At the same time, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies received a lot of negative press, perpetuated by central banks, commercial banks and even governments who called it a mere internet bubble.
However, in the following years, these critics realized that cryptocurrencies, like any other new asset, are volatile and not just an internet bubble and thus a lot of them changed their stance including governments.
These cryptocurrencies have been advertised as an alternative form of currency by many proponents. But because of their high volatility (which has come down significantly) it still cannot be used as a direct form of exchange.
Thus a majority of the people use it as an instrument for investment diversification. Along with the volatility issues, and passive regulatory stances of governments, even in developed nations, it makes it tough for the common public to look at it as a safe bet.
The lack of knowledge among the broader public, whose only aim is to see Bitcoin rise to 2017 level highs as a quick profit maker, in addition to evolving scams involving crypto, wreaks havoc on the underlying trust in digital asset classes.
Apart from that CBDCs are basically digitized fiat that runs on the common credit system of the country and thus people won’t have to worry about high volatility or their investment getting to zero.
Apart from that, a majority of the countries are looking to launch their own CBDCs. China currently at the top, having already started trials for its national digitized yuan. Other countries, meanwhile, have either started research for the same or are looking to study the pros and cons of launching CBDCs.
The Rate of Crypto Adoption in Developed Nations Are High
The survey found that there is a 20% deviation in the rate of adoption between developed and developing nations. Meaning that the chances of consumers in developed nations of adopting crypto was 20% higher than developing nations.
The survey revealed that 23% of the surveyed consumers in developed nations owned cryptocurrencies, while only 19% of people in developing nations had already invested in digital assets.
The study also revealed that 60% of crypto owners were aged between 18 and 38 years old while only 40% above 39 years owned crypto.
This article is Originally posted on CoinCentral.com
Author: Rebecca Asseh


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Getting rid of our phones every time better software and features launch isn’t ecologically intelligent, but I have a Verizon upgrade to get a free iPhone
The need to make our cellphones last longer is finally getting some attention. Now Google is taking on the challenge of making a phone to withstand the annual onslaught of new state-of-the-art hardware and software. With Google’s super-customizable modular phone concept, Project Ara, we may soon be able to take advantage of smartphone technology’s weekly breakthroughs without ditching our like-new phones when 6G is released and 5G becomes old hat.
Of course, there are good reasons not to own a smartphone at all. They contain rare-earth elements, plenty of toxic mercury and chlorine, and conflict minerals mined by wage slaves and sold by warlords and corrupt states to fund violence and maintain repression. And the constant upgrading of electronics pollutes the climate thanks to global, emissions-intensive supply chains. On the downstream side, our throwaway culture has created a huge e-waste problem, since electronics recycling isn’t yet widespread
Getting rid of our phones every time better features launch isn’t sustainable (even if new, clean methods for extracting the precious metals from old phones with ‘shrooms scale up). Yet right now, Verizon will give me a brand-new iPhone 4. For free. I’ve never had a smartphone, and that’s a pretty tempting offer. Yet, I would far prefer to buy one used or refurbished for environmental and social reasons. Too bad those options cost money.
Turns out I’m not the only one facing these destructive incentives. Verizon offers every customer a deeply discounted or free phone every two years, as do most service providers.
Instead of a slab of glass and metal that you have no ability to upgrade, save for buying a new device, it’s an attempt to launch a phone where all of the main components are interchangeable via modules that click in and out, attaching via electro-permanent magnets.
If Google can create hardware and support systems to keep pace with continual software advances, Project Ara may liberate us from the endless succession of planned obsolescence that rules today’s gadget world — and slow the ecologically vicious resultant cycle of resource throughput. What’s more, we’ll be able to pimp out our phones with whatever contraptions and accessories we think are essential or sexy. The device will be a platform to personalize.


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Medtronic recalls insulin pumps over cybersecurity risk
Could be vulnerable to hackers taking control of devices
Medtronic is recalling several models of its insulin pumps after the Food and Drug Administration warned patients and healthcare providers that the devices are vulnerable to cyber threats that could lead to serious health risks.
The recall affects Medtronic’s MiniMed 508 and MiniMed Paradigm series insulin pumps, which connect wirelessly to other insulin equipment, including glucose meters, a monitoring system and controls that pump insulin. The cyber vulnerabilities could allow hackers to take control of the devices remotely and change their settings. In a statement on Thursday, the FDA said Medtronic is currently not able to “adequately update” the pumps to patch the risks.
The agency said it “is concerned that, due to cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified in the device, someone other than a patient, caregiver or health care provider could potentially connect wirelessly to a nearby MiniMed insulin pump and change the pump’s settings. This could allow a person to over deliver insulin to a patient, leading to low blood sugar … or to stop insulin delivery, leading to high blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis.”
It added: “Patients with diabetes using these models should switch their insulin pump to models that are better equipped to protect against these potential risks.”
Medtronic said in a letter to the 4,000 users of the devices that it recommended switching to a different type of insulin pump and taking cybersecurity precautions with the existing pumps. Security steps included making sure all devices related to the pump were kept in patients’ sight at all times and monitoring blood sugar levels closely.
Similar cybersecurity alerts have been issued by the FDA regarding medical devices, including heart defibrillators and pacemakers.
Medtronic, which is based in Dublin, Ireland, operates has a facility in Portsmouth, NH, where some 150 people are employed. The company confirmed in February that it would be closing the site at Pease International Tradeport within a year.


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Galway City Tribune – Electrical and homewares giant Harvey Norman is set to become the anchor tenant in Phase 2 of the Gateway Retail Park in Knocknacarra – where construction work is expected to begin next month.
The 45,000 square foot store will create around 50 full and part-time jobs when completed.
Major fashion retailers are also being targeted as potential tenants as part of a €20 million investment by the centre’s owners to develop the 3.8-acre ‘hole in the ground’ adjacent to Dunnes Stores and will include more retail units, café, restaurant, gym, offices and a crèche.
There will also be a new pedestrian link created running through the site, connecting it to Bóthar Stiofáin. The plans also include 129 basement parking spaces, 22 surface spaces and 116 bicycle spaces. The basement carpark will be linked to the existing one.
Construction work on the two-storey block is expected to begin in June, and will take around 14 months to complete.
“We are committed to investing significantly in the Galway site with a fresh modern retail space. Our most recent store opening fit-out cost €4 million. We believe the presence of Harvey Norman in Galway will also benefit the wider retail community within the park,” the company said.
To read the rest of this article, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.


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Sport, Arts & Culture
Africa’s greatest horseracing event is also one of the continent’s greatest fashion showpiece and this year it is poised to be even more amazing.
Thousands of people are expected to descend on Durban for the Vodacom Durban July (VDJ) to take place at Greyville Racecourse on 7 July and they won’t be there only for the horses
The prestigious sporting and tourism event attracts over 50 000 people from across the country and provides fashion designers with a platform to showcase their skills.
This year’s VDJ Fashion Experience has added a new element to its popular pre-race day fashion shows with the formalisation of a new category that harnesses some of the best designers to have emerged from the Fashion Experience programme since 2005.
VDJ Fashion Experience programme director Tiffany Prior said there are so many designers who have a long-running association with the VDJ that it made sense to introduce a category – called the Timeless Collection – that showcases their excellence.
“Some of them are former winners of the pre-race day competitions, while others have been loyal supporters of the race day fashion competition. What they all have in common is they are amazing designers with deep roots in the VDJ Fashion Experience, thanks to Gold Circle team.
This year’s fashion show will be separated into three categories: Young Designers, Invited Designers and Timeless Collection. Designers from other provinces will participate in the Invited Designers category. Designers who have previously been part of this category include David Tlale, KLûK CGDT, Zama Mathe, Gideon, Colleen Eitzen, Paledi Segapo and Karen Monk.
Timeless Category designers include Brenda Quin, Sibu Msimang, Skye Pengelley, Madelain Clark, Martin Steenkamp, Racine Lyle Meredith Denny and Sadie Bosworth.
Another Durban designer to have touched almost every aspect of the VDJ fashion programme is Sibu Msimang. She was a finalist in the VDJ Young Designer Award as an enthusiastic student, then an Invited Designer and has also regularly served as a judge. She said her design for this year is ready. “Lovers of fashion must come in their numbers to they see style and glamour at its best,” said Msimang.


text: New to Best Global Green Brands this year, Colgate has made sustainability a key priority by integrating it into its overall business approach, as well as its everyday operations. In 2010, it launched a five-year plan called “Giving the World Reasons to Smile,” to guide its sustainability efforts. Key focus areas are promoting health, contributing to communities, saving water, and reducing environmental impact. Colgate is making significant progress against its sustainability goals. From 2005 to 2012, Colgate reduced water use per ton of production by 31 percent, driving it close to its goal of 40 percent reduction by 2015. The company also believes in providing access to clean water. Colgate sponsors “Play Pumps” in South Africa, providing an opportunity for children to play, while helping underserved villages get clean water from wells. Colgate is also making progress in decreasing energy consumption, with a reduction of almost 13 percent vs. 2005. As a major packaged goods manufacturer, the company is committed to cutting the impact of products and packages by increasing the use of sustainable materials and recycled content. In addition, Colgate and TerraCycle have partnered to collect and recycle Colgate packaging collected at schools, retailers, and other locations, which in turn generates revenue for schools and charities. Colgate has also established important supply chain goals including supplier Responsible Sourcing assessments and committing to purchasing only certified sustainable palm oil. Colgate has made progress against its sustainability goals, but has a way to go on the journey. However, through this integrated approach to sustainability, Colgate is showing that how you do business is just as important as what you do.


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Plastics News editor Robert Grace reported the following items from Plastimagen, held Sept. 3-6 in Mexico City.
``It's strange,'' Eduardo Alvarez Bilbatúa said of current end-market trends in Mexico. ``Certain areas are going well, and certain areas are seeing a lot of pressure from the Far East.''
The Cuban-born Alvarez, a Mexico plastics veteran, since January has been director general of resin supplier PolyOne Distribucón Mexico SA de CV, based in Naucalpan. He said the automotive business is doing well and the household appliance sector is extremely strong, as it also becomes sophisticated.
On the other hand, Alvarez said, the maquiladoras are slowing down, and production of small electric appliances has all but shifted to Asia.
``Tools migrate East, and materials follow tools,'' he said Sept. 3 at the Plastimagen stand of PolyOne, which employs about 180 people in Mexico. Asians are making the greatest inroads into markets for compact, dense, easily shipped products. Mexico, meanwhile, is more than holding its own when it comes to making big, bulky products, those that are ``full of air,'' he said, such as washing machines, refrigerators and the like.
Alvarez sees an interesting trend in the large-appliance, or white goods, sector. Asian - mostly Korean - producers are moving into northern Mexico to set up plants to make such items. Their products ``are at the low end of the market,'' he said, ``but they are very innovative in design.''
He believes the influx of Far Eastern competitors has caught North American appliance makers a bit off guard.
To remain competitive, he said, appliance makers should get more creative in their designs. He said with a smile that he has told U.S. producers: ``We want white goods that are a little less white.''
On a broad scale, though, Alvarez said, ``I see progress here in Mexico - material progress. More people are buying cars, buying refrigerators. Our workers seem more prosperous.''
Plastec reports rise in equipment sales
Hector Sosa, who sells primary and auxiliary plastics equipment to the Latin American market, said business has picked up in the past couple of months after a ``lousy'' first half of 2002.
The president and general manager of Miami-based Plastec U.S.A. Inc. said crisis-ridden Argentina remains dead. But sales are increasing in places such as Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, across the Caribbean, and even in Venezuela, which he described as ``incredible to us,'' given that country's current political and economic turmoil.
``There is interesting activity in electric machines, even in Venezuela,'' he said. ``And Mexico is showing some activity, but a lot of manufacturing is going to China.'' Nevertheless, he said he was very satisfied with activity at Plastimagen, where Plastec exhibited.
Sosa, whose product portfolio includes Milacron machines, noted that the competitively priced injection press Milacron makes in India is doing well in Latin America. ``We're selling a number of such machines,'' available in clamping forces of 32-1,212 tons. Sosa said the machines offer strong competition to Taiwanese and Korean presses.
Six or seven years ago, he said, Plastec made auxiliary equipment a primary plank in its business strategy. So, while customer budgets for big-ticket purchases dried up during tough economic times, Plastec made money selling auxiliaries, spares and reconditioned machinery. That, Sosa said, ``has been a saving grace.''
Foreign toolmakers flock to Plastimagen
Weak domestic mold-making capabilities make Mexico a prime target for foreign tooling suppliers, which typically turn out in force at Plastimagen. This year was no exception, with many Canadian and Portuguese toolmakers exhibiting, along with the American Mold Builders Association and others.
One Canadian tooling giant, StackTeck Systems Inc., said business is booming. Dave Brown, president and chief executive officer of StackTeck, which includes Unique, Tradesco and Fairway Molds in its portfolio, said demand is poor in Brazil but steady in Canada and strong in the United States and Mexico.
``Sales volumes are back to 2000 levels,'' Brown said, ``but prices are depressed.'' Customers wanting a simple container mold can get one from StackTeck in 16 weeks, he said, but high-end stack molds are backlogged up to nine months.
Cefamol, Portugal's national association for the mold industry, had about a dozen of its member companies exhibiting in Mexico City, said Manuel Oliveira, the group's secretary general. ``Business is starting now to become good,'' he said. ``Last year business was down, but not as bad as in the U.S.''
Oliveira said his group's members, which export more than 90 percent of their mold production, now are seeing ``more quotes, more work.'' He said the U.S. market is steady, with demand growing incrementally in parts of Europe, such as Germany, France and Spain.
Crompton introduces various new products
Polymer additives producer Crompton Corp. of Middlebury, Conn., promoted several new products, including:
* A pair of lubricants, Kemamide VO and Kemamide ELO, which the firm claims are the first vegetable-oil-based slip agents that perform comparably to, but are less expensive than, animal-based alternatives.
* MoldPro 931 nucleating agent, used to enhance stiffness and strength while reducing cycle times for processing wood/natural-fiber plastics, an area in which Crompton is very active.
* XLPEarl silane for wire and cable and cross-linked polyethylene pipe applications.
* Mark High-Speed 2200 Series window-frame stabilizer, based on patented technology, which is said to eliminate extrusion line vibration.
Ernst & Young honors Houston's V. Goradia
Vijay Goradia, the Houston-based head of resin and chemical distributor Vinmar de Mexico S de RL de CV, recently was named Houston's 2002 Master Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.
The award honors individuals who create companies that generate new jobs and wealth. Goradia, a 24-year chemical industry veteran, founded ChemXL in 2001 to provide online negotiating tools for the chemical industry. That firm since has evolved into SourceXL. Goradia also started and is chairman of Vinmar International Ltd.


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Recreational Equipment Inc.’s chief executive underscored the outdoor retailer’s focus on “sustainable profitability” with the release of its 2022 financial results Wednesday.
REI recorded net sales of $3.85 billion last year, up from the $3.74 billion it generated in 2021.
The retailer swung to a $164.71 million loss in 2022, compared to net income of $97.66 million in the prior year.
“We posted a record $3.85 billion in revenue in 2022, coming off an impressive year for both revenue and profit growth in 2021,” President and CEO Eric Artz said in a public letter recapping the year that was also released Wednesday. “Financially, 2022 was a year of significant investment for the co-op – some planned as we entered the year, while other investments were made as a result of changing market conditions and in service to our people and values.”
REI operates as a co-op, with 21.5 million members, who the retailer said received $223.7 million in member rewards last year.
REI, which operates 181 stores, opened five doors in 2022. That included one location that brought the retailer to Nebraska for the first time. So far this year, it has opened a store in Athens, Georgia, in February and announced plans to open a store in Sarasota, Florida, this fall.
Earlier this year, the company informed employees of job cuts at its headquarters, amounting to 167 positions or about 8% of the corporate staff. The headquarters office staff represents less than 1% of the company-wide headcount.
Artz, at the time of the layoffs, cited “increasing uncertainty” as one of the reasons for the restructuring as the company focuses on what he described as the “most critical investments and areas of work to best serve our members and grow the co-op over the long term.”
Kari Hamanaka can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Food prices are expected to rise going into 2022, and one major contributing factor is the rising price of fertilizer. The American Farm Bureau Federation stated that all nutrients had risen dramatically in cost over the last year: ammonia has increased over 210%; liquid nitrogen has increased over 159%; urea is up 155%; MAP has increased 125%; DAP is up over 100%, and potash has risen above 134%. This does not include the growing cost of transportation.
Due to growing global demand, the US exports 44% of all fertilizer materials made domestically. Six specific crops generate two-thirds of fertilizer demand: corn (16%), wheat (15%), rice (14%), vegetables (9%), fruits (7%), and soybeans (5%). In the US, corn requires 49% of all fertilizer, with wheat accounting for 11% and soybeans 10%.
The American Farm Bureau Federation expects demand and prices to remain high into the spring season. As a result, farmers are increasingly shifting to crops that require less fertilization. The prices for these nutrients are so high that many farmers will be lucky to break even on costs. As always, these costs will be passed on to the consumer. Expect foods, especially those requiring a higher level of fertilization, to go up in the new year.


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2021 Represents The Worst Amazon Rainforest Deforestation In 15 Years
Amazon Deforestation In Brazil Jumps To A 15 Year High According to the National Institute for Space Research’s Prodes monitoring system. The current data shows that the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest lost 13,235 square kilometers of its precious rainforest over the past 12-months. This period is not just 2021, but encompasses from August of 2020 to July of 2021.
Furthermore, that’s the most loss of the natural earth’s great wonder since 2006.
As a result of a government that opposses regulations on farmers buring the forest. In addition, anything that seems to help the environmentalists is not welcome by the current Brazilian President. The President is known around Brazil for favoring the economy over the environment, even if it means poor short-term choices for Brazil.
In conclusion, the Amazon Rainforest is a vital resource of our planet and her loss would be catastrophic. Lastly, will an international coalition eventually form to bring together vast resources of capital. Furthermore, apply this capital towards purchasing large swaths of land. So as to safeguard the Amazon Rainforest for future generations.
Will anything change? Or will Brazil’s President cotinue to pursue a path that favors the economy over any consideration for the environment?
Brazil’s treasure is not just their own, it also belongs to the rest of the world.


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Sweden offers tax breaks to repair — not replace — broken objects
Sweden is introducing two new tax breaks at the start of 2017 — a cut in sales tax for repairs on small objects, and a tax refund for appliance repair costs.
"It's part of a greater strategy for introducing sustainable patterns of consumption in Sweden," Per Bolund, Sweden's deputy finance and consumer affairs minister tells The Current's guest host Piya Chattopadhyay.
"We see many signs that people want to make a difference, to try to be responsible as consumers. And from the government's side we try to encourage that."
In Toronto, fix-it shops like Butler's Appliance Repair in Toronto's east end are thriving.
"Right now we're doing a ton of repairs," says Craig Butler, the third generation in his family to work at the store.
"We're busier now than we've been in the past 10, 15 years. There's a big push on now to repair instead of throw out."
Fix-it shops, like the Butlers', used to be a fixture in every community and now politicians in Sweden have made it a priority to help them thrive again.
The Butler family says many of their competitors didn't make it through the lean years, when replacing rather than repairing was the norm. But these days, advocates, young and old, are trying to repair the fix-it ethos.
An enthusiastic community of amateur repair enthusiasts known as the "fixer movement" work at repair cafés. The cafés got their start in the Netherlands, half a decade ago, but they are popping up in Canada too.
- RELATED: Start your own Repair Café
Repair cafes are not-for-profit groups with the goal of adding "repair" as the fourth "R", alongside reduce, reuse and recycle.
But there are young repair enthusiasts such as Kyle Wiens who sees profit in the fix-it business — though along a different model from traditional shops like Butler's Appliance Service.
Wiens is the CEO and a co-founder of the website iFixit, which posts instructions for repairing everything from smartphones to alarm clocks, and also sells tools and replacement parts. He says that taking objects apart and repairing them can help us understand the world — but that some manufacturers stand in the way of the fixer movement.
"The manufacturers have realized that repair maybe takes business away from buying new products," says Wiens.
"A few manufacturers are really proactively trying to prevent people from fixing things."
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this web post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley.
Do you repair your smartphones, blenders and radios? Or is it too intimidating to try?
We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email. Find us on Facebook, or tweet us @TheCurrentCBC.


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MassTLC steps up mobile activity with new committee
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- Rodney H. Brown
The Mass Technology Leadership Council has moved forward with its absorption of the Massachusetts Network Communications Council, forming a new Mobile Executive Advisory Committee to help build its mobile cluster.
The new committee is being led by co-chairs Steve Krom, vice president and general manager at AT&T and a MassTLC board member; Walt Doyle, president and CEO of Where; and Carl Stjernfeldt, general partner at Castile Ventures. According to Krom, the new committee “will work to solve some of the challenges facing the region and industry overall.”
MassTLC merged the Massachusetts Network Communications Council into its fold in November of 2009. At the time, MassTLC chairman Steve O’Leary got the idea for the merger at the MassTLC annual meeting in February of that year when he was listening to Boston-area angel investor John Landry talking about cloud computing, and he realized that the line between communications and computing had essentially disappeared. That led to meetings with Krom, who at that time was chairman of the Network Communications Council.
Members of the new mobile executive advisory committee are:
Jeremy Segel, VP of Corp Development, Akamai
Steve Krom, VP and GM, AT&T
Mohamad Ali, SVP, Corp Dev and Strategy, Avaya
Mads Lillelund, CEO, Bluesocket
Carl Stjernfeldt, General Partner, Castile Ventures
Jon Auerbach, General Partner, Charles River Ventures
Ashraf Dahod, SVP and GM, Cisco
James Geshwiler, Managing Director, CommonAngels
Michael Davies, Founder and Chairman, Endeavour Partners
David Feldman, President, Feldman Associates
Rich Miner, Partner, Google
Ryan Moore, General Partner, Grand Banks
Sean Dalton, General Partner, Highland Capital Partners
Anthony Kinney, Mobile Evangelist, Microsoft
Mark Lowenstein, Managing Director, Mobile Ecosystem
Justin Siegel, Co-Founder and CEO, MocoSpace
Chase Garbarino, CEO, Pinyadda
Joseph Sanborn, Managing Director, Head of M&A, Rutberg & Company
Ted Morgan, CEO, Skyhook Wireless
Kevin Wiant, CEO, Spar Networks
E.Y. Snowden, CEO, Tatara
Walt Doyle, CEO, where.com
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Arby’s is back at it again…
We all know the fast food chain for their roast beef sandwiches, and curly fries.
However, here recently, Arby’s has been trying to cater to a whole different market…
And we’re talking about the market of people who love both Arby’s, and getting absolutely rip-shit drunk.
In November of last year, the chain came completely out of left field and unveiled their limited-edition, curly fry flavored vodka, which caught us all off guard.
I assumed it was just an experiment, or a fad, considering everybody and their brother was trying to make their own type of alcohol in 2021.
Except, here we are again, as they’ve unveiled their brand new barbecue flavored booze, called Arby’s Smoked Bourbon.
And I have to admit, this one seems a little more on-brand.
The chain has partnered up with Brain Brew, an Ohio-based distillery, to re-create the taste of a smoked barbecue sandwich in alcohol form, set at 45% ABV.
The majority of the flavoring comes from hickory, mesquite, and pecan smoke, according to Forbes.
Arby’s president Jim Taylor weighed in on the latest project:
“After our successful vodka launch last year, we knew we wanted to release another unexpected liquor that our fans of legal drinking age can responsibly pair with our menu items.
Arby’s smoked meats are the cornerstone of our brand, so why not use our expertise to create a delicious smoked bourbon that complements the flavors and enhances the experience of enjoying our Smokehouse Sandwiches?”
Brain Brew CEO and co-founder Doug Hall also weighed in on the partnership:
“We were thrilled to partner with Arby’s to craft Arby’s Smoked Bourbon.
We take pride in the hours of research, detail and innovation that goes into creating custom bottles of bourbon for our collaboration partners as well as consumers and enjoyed recreating one of Arby’s signature flavor profiles using the same smoked woods that they use at Sadler’s Smokehouse.”
Arby’s Smoked Bourbon will be available tomorrow, October 19th, and can be found in California, Florida, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington DC.
Needless to say, this one will be interesting… but hell, I’ll try anything once… or twice.


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MODA IN VIBE: NATURAL TEXTURES
Byline: Phyllis Macchioni
MILAN — Color and texture were the two big elements at last month’s Moda In fabric show. Natural fibers retained the momentum they have built over the past few seasons, with wool and cotton fabrics highly visible throughout the show.
Patterns too — particularly plaids and prints — held the limelight at many stands, which were introducing fabrics and trims for the fall-winter 2001-2002 retail season.
Six hundred exhibitors participated in this year’s edition, including 138 foreign companies, as 25,000 people passed through the gates during the three-day fair, an 11.5 percent increase in attendance over last year’s edition. Exhibitors said they were particularly happy with the high number of Asian buyers that attended. The fair, which wrapped up its three-day run at the Milan Fairground on Sept. 13, is organized by Sitex, the organization for the development and promotion of textiles, the Italian Cotton Association and the Italian Industrial Textile Federation.
“We are finding that most of our buyers are happy to see more natural fiber textiles being offered, and the return of strong, rich colors,” said Ruggero Rossi, owner of Lorenzo Rossi & Figli, a Milan-based cotton and wool fabric mill.
“Because we are a traditional house,” he said, ” we don’t produce a lot of techno-fabrics. But for fall-winter, we are offering our clients a new line of microfiber fabrics designed primarily for outerwear, and a new multiuse wool and cotton stretch fabric.”
Duemilagori offered a wide selection of textured wools in tweeds and houndstooth checks, and cotton velvet in deep opulent colors. Luciano Vinattieri, Duemilagori’s director of sales, said that the response to the return of traditional styles and natural fabrics was encouraging. The addition of metallic yarns continues to be an important feature in the Duemilagori line, but cotton velvet, particularly in hot jewel tones, seemed to be their new run away bestseller, he said. According to Vinattieri, traditional narrow-wale corduroy was selling very well, as were tie-dyed wools and large striped wools in hot, bold colors.
Rich colors marked the palettes across all the stands. Camel, sand and off-white were on the light end of the charts, followed by the luxuriant fall shades: dark forest green, pumpkin, burgundy, copper, saffron and deep violet. Alessandra Calori, a textile designer for Ratti-Braghenti, said her company’s New York clients showed a strong interested in wool jacquards. Other novelties at Braghenti were the silk and microfiber combinations and all-silk plaids that were available in 60 color combinations.
Lanificio Luigi Botto showed an array of sumptuous fabrics, including a selection of wool jerseys. Many selections in this supple and sensuous line were crossover fabrics, which designer Richard Cardascer said could be used for either men’s or woman’s clothing. Pale pumpkin, butterscotch, Mediterranean blue and chestnut were the hot shades.
Color was also big news at Alcantara, a leading manufacturer of synthetic suede. Double-faced suede, one side a textured tweed, plaid or boucle, backed with supple ultra-light microfiber, was featured in new collection.
“We can now cover [synthetic suede] with a plasticized film, or apply a transparent layer that adds shine,” said Gianpietro Oriani, Alcantara’s North European director of sales. “These two applications protect the fabric while keeping it soft and pliable.”
While the trend toward natural fiber fabrics continues to be strong for most fashion applications, techno-fabrics are holding their own in outerwear and specialty applications.
At Clerprem, owner Gian Roberto Marchesi said his goal this season was to create new effects in its line of denim fabrics, using some of the research and development resources of its parent company, a manufacturer of seating systems for railways and automobiles.
The company’s colors for the fall-winter 2001-2002 season include dark blue, graphite, marble, dark camel, burgundy and brown.


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It all started in 1996 when...
Chicke Fitzgerald began leveraging her travel technology experience to help business incubate new ideas. Her consulting firm, Solutionz, grew to guide numerous businesses to refine their vision and increase their traction. It was exhilarating.
Here's just a few of the brands that relied on Solutionz for insight.
But Chicke and the team were drawn to more than just incubating ideas -- they wanted to incubate new businesses.
The team's multi-industry experience helped Solutionz and investors launch LeisureLogix, HotelsbyHospitals.com and LasVegas.com. Today is a new season on that path. A new executive team, board and advisory board are bringing the next Solutionz venture to life: TripProximity.


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This revelation pretty much echoed what Ola Lilja Molen, the Head of SEA Markets for Sony Mobile has mentioned at the device’s launch event last week that the company has already been in discussion with local telco for Xperia Z’s upcoming market release although he declined to mention the actual telco.
So, what it could be then? Contractual plans? Discounts? Free gifts? Well, we believe that it will be contractual plans but we are definitely open to suggestions until the actual announcement to be made tomorrow.
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Syefri “Chapree” Zulkefli is an industry mainstay that has made his bones in the eSports, gaming and tech community for almost a decade.


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Alternative Investments/Digital: Samsung Asset Management To Launch Bitcoin Futures ETF In Hong Kong
The ETF will be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Market.
On January 13, Samsung Asset Management will launch the Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF on the Hong Kong stock market. The move is timing nicely with what appears to be a resurgence of investor interest in digital assets alongside a rally in global equities following slowing inflation. (Coin Edition)
As at the time of writing, bitcoin is trading at $18,809.12, up over 7%.
Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF
The new ETF will invest in Bitcoin futures products listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a proxy for the performance of the spot Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, a Korean local news outlet has confirmed that the Samsung Bitcoin futures ETF will invest primarily in CME Bitcoin Futures, alongside minor investments in CME Micro-Bitcoin Futures.
Samsung Asset Management had previously listed the Samsung Blockchain Technologies and Samsung Asia Pacific Metaverse ETF in Hong Kong.
The asset manager’s Hong Kong head, Park Seong-jin said: “Hong Kong is the only market in Asia where bitcoin futures ETFs are listed and traded in the institutional market. It will be a new option for investors who are interested in Bitcoin as a competitive product that reflects their experience in risk management.”
Hong Kong is said to be the only location in Asia that allows the trading of an instrument such as a bitcoin futures ETF.
Notably, Hong Kong’s financial secretary, Paul Chan, said at the Hong Kong Web3 Innovator Summit that the state has achieved all the legislative work required to set up a licensing framework for virtual asset service providers.
Related Story: Samsung To Launch Metaverse ETF on HKEX
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NYC’s Fashion Manufacturing Industry is Changing
For the past seven years, ITAC has participated in Manufacturing Day, in an effort to highlight the importance of the manufacturing sector to the economy.
This year, ITAC focuses on the ever-changing Fashion Manufacturing industry, with our panel of experts discussing emerging business models that manufacturers are now adopting to succeed in NYC; as well as the increased awareness around equity and inclusion that we are witnessing in a variety of forms.
Five factories — H.L Helen Apparel, M&S Schmalberg, New York Embroidery Studio, Stoll NYC and Sunrise Studio — are kindly offering guided tours of their operations, right after the panel discussions. Space is limited, and advance registration required.
When: Thursday October 3, 2019 at 9AM
Where: At the Fashion Institute of Technology’s
Katie Murphy Amphitheatre
Seventh Avenue at 27th St, 10001
Breakfast and Refreshments
Brown-Bag Lunch for Those Attending the Factory Tours
• Made In NYC


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Volkswagen is set to unveil an all-new Touareg at the Detroit motor show in January - and the line-up will include a hybrid from the outset.
The petrol-electric Touareg - VW's first production hybrid - will be the first of several new hybrid and electric models the company plans to launch by 2013. CEO Martin Winterkorn is keen for VW to become an “innovator” in alternative-fuel vehicles, as he believes it to be a “crucial technology”.
The new Touareg range, including the hybrid, is due to go on sale in the second half of 2010.
Ex-Continental boss Karl-Thomas Neumann has been brought in to lead the firm’s electric propulsion development and he will start this role next month, reporting directly to Winterkorn.
VW's first all-electric car will be the Up. Neumann will be responsible for developing the car, with the remit of bringing it to market by 2013. An electric Up concept was shown at Frankfurt in September.
In January VW will also begin trials of 20 examples of its plug-in hybrid Golf Twin Drive in Berlin. The Twin Drive is the firm’s first plug-in and can run for more than 30 miles on electric power alone. The Twin Drive also has a 2.0-litre diesel engine, giving a combined power output of 172bhp.


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5G Home Broadband showcased with a 5G-enabled, AR living room of the future experience at Three’s Oxford Street store
Three is the latest telco to launch a 5G service, initially with a 5G home broadband option rather than a mobile 5G network. It also revealed it aims to build “the UK’s fastest 5G network.”
Three is kicking off its 5G service with a 5G ‘plug and play’ hub for London-based customers that it says will “immediately transform their connected home experience.”
To showcase the benefits of 5G home broadband, Three has created an AR-driven ‘living room of the future’ experience with designer Henry Holland (pictured above), at its store at 297 Oxford street.
Three promises a “hybrid, physical-virtual living room” with visitors wearing Magic Leap glasses liaising with an AI assistant during a “shopping experience of the future.” The high speed of the 5G broadband network is able to render very complex and responsive holographic animations during the experience.
Three chief marketing officer Shadi Halliwell, said: “The launch of 5G is going to revolutionise the way we connect at home. With Three’s 5G Broadband, we are getting rid of all the hassle, pain and waiting that is associated with getting your home connected.”
Holland added: “This opportunity with Three has enabled us to bring 5G to life in a fun but meaningful way. 5G will accelerate innovation and remove some of the physical boundaries and restrictions to design and the arts that has gone before. It’s exciting and I’ve really enjoyed working with the teams involved to bring it to life.”


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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide continues to expand its Le Méridien hotel brand across the United States: Last week, Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph opened in downtown Columbus, OH, marking the brand's Ohio debut.
"Le Méridien is off to another great year of accelerated growth, set to open more than 10 hotels around the world in 2015," said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader of Starwood's Le Méridien and Westin brands. "With a burgeoning arts and culinary scene, Columbus is a perfect match for Le Méridien brand's Ohio debut as we help curious and creative-minded travelers unlock the destination through the hotel's design, cuisine, and access to local culture."
Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph follows the opening of Le Méridien hotels last year in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Charlotte, NC, among others. Located in the Short North Arts District of Columbus, it has 135 guest rooms, a lounge, a 24-hour fitness center, a full-service restaurant, and nearly 7,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom for up to 250 guests.
Keeping with Le Méridien's art-centric theme, the hotel also is home to a collection of 31 new pieces of art from 15 Ohio artists, appearing in the hotel's guest rooms, hallways, and lounges.
"We will focus on bringing a new authentic lifestyle experience to Columbus, offering personalized service excellence within the backdrop of this beautiful, luxury-boutique hotel," said Paul Wischermann, president and CEO of Wischermann Partners Inc., the hotel's manager.
Starwood acquired Le Méridien -- established in Paris in 1972 -- in 2005 and subsequently re-launched the French-born hotel brand around the themes of art and food. Presently, the brand has nearly 100 properties in more than 40 countries.
For a recap of last week's top stories, check out MeetingNews Minute:


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SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill to close a loophole in the state’s ban on importing, buying or selling elephant ivory or rhinoceros horns.
The measure by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins aimed to end the state’s exemption for selling ivory imported before 1977. The San Diego Democrat says clamping down on the illegal ivory trade would help bring an end to the poaching of elephants and rhinoceros.
Critics say the legislation would do little to help if other countries and states continue allowing sales of ivory products.
But supporters argue California can make a difference by serving as a model for other states. They say California is a major market for ivory, and the ban would help dry up demand.
San Francisco and Los Angeles make up two of the country’s top three hubs for ivory sales.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)